Reviews with content warning for Death - Rød revolt

Reviews tagging 'Death'

Rød revolt by Pierce Brown

573 reviews

flvebyflve's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

First, a disclaimer: I experienced this story as a Graphic Audio production, which is a totally different way to take in a book. It had a full cast of voice actors, cinematic music, and sound effects that really brought the world to life for me. I think this format made the story incredibly immersive and epic. It's possible that just reading the book might not have the same explosive appeal, so keep that in mind.

With that said, after hearing so much hype, I finally dove into "Red Rising," and it was an intense and thrilling ride. The book grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go, pulling you through a brutal and unforgiving world that is brilliantly crafted. The comparisons to other popular dystopian series are there, but "Red Rising" definitely stands on its own, feeling more mature and visceral.

My opinion of the main character, Darrow, is a bit complicated. He's a fascinating protagonist, driven by a fierce love and a burning rage that makes you root for him. You feel his pain and his desire for justice. He's intelligent, a natural leader, and shows a remarkable capacity for strategy and manipulation. However, at times, his almost superhuman abilities and success can make him feel a little too perfect, like a "chosen one" who is the best at everything. Despite this, his inner conflict and the difficult choices he's forced to make keep him compelling. I appreciated that he's not a flawless hero; his rage can cloud his judgment, leading to mistakes that create real tension.

The supporting cast is one of the novel's greatest strengths. Even characters who only appear for a short time feel three-dimensional and memorable. I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Darrow and his allies, especially the fiercely loyal and scene-stealing Sevro. The relationships, full of alliances and betrayals, are complex and add so much depth to the story. The political intrigue and backstabbing are reminiscent of "Game of Thrones," keeping you constantly guessing who to trust.

The writing itself is vivid and fast-paced, especially in the action sequences, which are both epic and easy to visualize. I had read that the first-person, present-tense narrative took some getting used to for some people, but I personally didn't have this problem at all. The book really has two parts with a completely different pace. If you find the first part a little slow while the world is being built, just wait. Part two absolutely explodes, turning into something like The Hunger Games meets Lord of the Flies that is impossible to put down. That said, some readers might find the constant violence and brutality to be a bit much, as it is a very dark and merciless story.

Overall, I found "Red Rising" to be an addictive and masterfully plotted novel. Let's be clear, the basic story is not original by any means. A teenager rebelling against oppression in a dystopian world? Yes, we have definitely read this before. But while the premise might be familiar, what makes this book stand out is the execution. It's a story of rebellion, strategy, and what it means to fight for something more than yourself. The incredible world-building, compelling characters, and relentless pace make it a must-read for any fan of science fiction and dystopian stories.

Content Warnings

clw718's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous medium-paced

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Content Warnings

annditj's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Follows the heroic cycle, I bawled during the call to action. The book is only act one of a larger plot, but still fits most of the cycle in pretty neatly. It is well done.

Book is violent and has some rough descriptions, but seriously and purposefully done.

Content Warnings

vetrina's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The first 1/3 of the book was pretty mid, but the rest was good. It feels pretty derivative, but at the same time, Pierce Brown makes it work. I liked the characters quite a bit. The plot is gritty and devastating, but it never feels like it's for shock value. But I wasn't a huge fan of how Darrow's wife is only in the book to

get herself executed so he can start a revolution he doesn't want to start

Content Warnings

bailee34's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Insanely amazing sci-fi series about toiling to topple a dystopian empire through daring espionage essentially. AMAZING!

Content Warnings

keen's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

iordanmoore's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A first book of a trilogy that in many ways fits the model of dystopian novels: a competition, social conflict, overcoming hierarchies, etc. But I like the infusion of Roman mythology and the plantary setting. My biggest complaint is that everything seemed a little too tied up at the end after the violence in the story, but that is plot convenience to allow for future books. I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.

Content Warnings

thenovelmaura's review against another edition

1.0

dark tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Unfortunately I had to waste my precious time with this Temu version of the Hunger Games for men who don't read because it was our book club pick this month. We get it, women exist to be used and abused, men are violent and cruel, caste systems are bad, and Darrow is the super special Chosen One despite the fact that he has zero redeeming qualities and is just as evil as the "Golds" he despises. Just knowing that there are 7 books in this series and this author is now a multimillionaire makes me want to hurt my computer into the sun.

Content Warnings

tonis_bookshelf's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Content Warnings

cheddachaze's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

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